Kevin Perez, the Bronx drill rapper known as Kay Flock, has been handed a 30-year prison sentence for his role in multiple shootings linked to gang activity. The 22-year-old's once-promising music career came to an abrupt end following his arrest in 2021.
Judge Condemns Glorification of Violence
U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman delivered the sentence in a New York courtroom on Wednesday, 17 December 2025. He strongly criticised Perez for celebrating and glorifying violence, actions the judge said sent a dangerous message to his young followers.
Prosecutors outlined a brutal 18-month period from 2020 into 2021, during which Perez, as a leader of the "Sev Side/DOA" gang, was involved in shootings that left numerous Bronx residents injured or dead. Judge Liman stated Perez had "taunted" and "helped create a cycle of violence," referencing social media posts where the rapper bragged about legal outcomes and wrote "KILL ALL RATS" after gang associates testified against him.
A Rapid Ascent and a Dramatic Fall
Perez's music career was in its ascendancy at the time of his arrest. In November 2021, he was named Billboard Magazine’s R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month following the release of his debut project, The D.O.A. Tape. This positioned him as a notable new voice in New York's drill rap scene, a genre often characterised by lyrics detailing street life and violence.
Prosecutors argued Perez leveraged this notoriety, alleging he used violence to further his music career. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick R. Moroney noted the rapper was "very good at celebrating his violence," and requested a 50-year sentence. The defence, led by attorney Michael Ashley, pleaded for the mandatory minimum of 10 years, citing Perez's upbringing in a dangerous neighbourhood and the influence of older individuals.
Claims of Change Met with Judicial Skepticism
During the sentencing hearing, Perez insisted he was a changed man. “What I was at 18 is not what I am today,” he told the court, adding, “I was just a kid. Didn't really know better.” He appealed for a second chance.
However, Judge Liman found this remorse lacking, noting Perez had shown no genuine concern for his victims. "To date, you've shown no real remorse for your conduct," the judge said. While acknowledging Perez's youth and traumatic background—including the deaths of six friends to gun violence before he turned 18—Liman deemed the lengthy term necessary for the four separate shootings that formed part of the racketeering conspiracy and attempted murder convictions from March.
The final sentence of 30 years in federal prison marks a stark conclusion to a case that highlights the intersection of street gang culture, violent crime, and the music industry.
